This fresh vegan mozzarella cheese recipe is the best for making Caprese salad, to top a pizza Margherita or garlicky bruschetta. Fatto in casa – made in the house from cashews, creamy and soft, mild, naturally oil-free, dairy-free, gluten-free and good for you.
Dairy free and homemade from scratch with only 5 ingredients, this simple soft Southern Italian cheese traditionally made from the water buffalo milk is healthy, plant based vegan and super easy to make.
The taste is mild, texture is creamy and springy just like any gourmet fresh Mozzarella di Bufalla you would normally buy packed in water. It’s everything minus the saturated fat, cholesterol and cruelty. A clean dairy-free protein alternative!
Thanks to the qualities of tapioca it’s also sliceable and melts wonderfully on a pizza or “mozzarella in carrozza“. I love it fresh on an antipasto platter alongside colorful heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, marinated artichoke hearts and roasted peppers. Pile it on top of Italian tomato bruschetta, drizzle with pesto and you have yourself a perfect summer meal.
Ingredient Notes + Tips
Cashews – Raw cashew pieces (unsalted, not roasted) they can go straight into the Vitamix blender. A quick soak in hot water for 20-30 minutes is highly recommended if you don’t have a really powerful blender.
Tapioca Starch– This is what will hold everything together and lend that perfectly creamy and stretchy texture.
Nutritional Yeast – Loaded with B vitamins and cheesy flavor, you could get away without it but most definitely use it if you have some.
Lemon –Â For tanginess I prefer using freshly squeezed lemon juice as my acid of choice. It’s milder than vinegar and if a stronger flavor profile is desired you can swap it for apple cider vinegar. (note: only use about 4 tablespoons vinegar to start and adjust from there until you get the perfect ratio for your taste buds).
Make it Smoky – Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of liquid smoke to the cheese mixture for a smoked variation.
Chill – Make sure to chill your cheese pouches in water in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes until completely set before serving.
Storage – Refrigerate packed in water for up to 5 days in a lidded airtight jar or container. Freezing is not recommended.
This fresh dairy-free vegan mozzarella cheese recipe is the best for making a fresh Caprese salad, to top a pizza Margherita or garlicky bruschetta. It’s creamy and soft, naturally oil-free, dairy-free and gluten free, good for you.
Transfer the cheese mixture to a sauce and bring to a boil. Using a wooden spoon stir constantly for a few minutes until the mixture turns into a sticky ball. You will see the curds forming which is great just keep stirring and take care not to allow anything to burn.
Once the mixture has thickened up into a ball remove from heat.
Prepare a bowl with ice water. Use a large spoon or ice cream scoop and scoop out balls of cheese. Place them in the ice cold water. (This should not stick but nicely slide off of the scoop into the water). Repeat with the remaining cheese.
Refrigerate all the mozzarella balls in the water for 30 minutes or until completely chilled and set. (If a more pouch like shape is desired simply wrap each ball in plastic wrap and twist tightly at the top. Refrigerate until ready to serve).
Store in the refrigerator packed in water in an airtight container or jar for up to 5 days. Pat dry before serving in a Caprese Salad with heirloom tomatoes and basil, slice or tear over a pizza pie or on top of garlic bread.
Notes
About the Cashews- Raw cashew pieces (unsalted, not roasted) they can go straight into the Vitamix blender. A quick soak in hot water for 20-30 minutes is highly recommended if you don't have a really powerful blender.
Tapioca- This is what will hold everything together and lend that perfectly creamy and stretchy texture.
Nutritional Yeast - Loaded with B vitamins and cheesy flavor, you could get away without it but most definitely use it if you have some.
Lemon -Â For tanginess I prefer using freshly squeezed lemon juice as my acid of choice. It's milder than vinegar and if a stronger flavor profile is desired you can swap it for apple cider vinegar. (note: only use about 4 tablespoons to start and adjust from there until you get the perfect ratio for your taste buds).
Make it Smoky - Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of liquid smoke to the cheese mixture for a smoked variation.
Chill - Make sure to chill your cheese pouches in water in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes until completely set before serving.Â
Storage - Refrigerate your mozzarella balls packed in water for up to 5 days in a lidded airtight jar or container.Â
This mozzarella is absolutely amazing! You would never guess it’s vegan unless you’ve been told. Truly heavenly, thank you for sharing such an easy and inspiring recipe that makes it a breeze to give up dairy. Fantastico dear Fiorentina! Brava!
This mozzarella is absolutely amazing! You would never guess it’s vegan unless you’ve been told. Truly heavenly, thank you for sharing such an easy and inspiring recipe that makes it a breeze to give up dairy. Fantastico dear Fiorentina! Brava!